Rivals seek tough EU antitrust action on Google

BRUSSELS (AP) — A coalition of Google’s competitors is urging the European Union’s antitrust watchdog to reject the internet giant’s proposed concessions on displaying search results.

Thomas Vinje of FairSearch, a group of 17 companies including Microsoft and TripAdvisor, said Tuesday “it would be better to do nothing than to accept Google’s proposals.”

The 27-country’s bloc’s antitrust authority has been investigating since 2010 whether Google is abusing its dominant market position and stifling competition. It pointed out several areas of concern that Google is trying to address, mainly by changing the way it displays search results.

Complainants in the case had two months ending this week to provide the body with feedback to the remedies.

Google Inc.’s search engine enjoys a near-monopoly in Europe with a market share of about 90 percent.